THE DREAM 



A DRAMA IN TWO ACTS 



BY 

HOWARD L. TERRY 



NORMAN V. LEWIS 

THE PHILOCOPHUS PRESS 

LOS ANGELES 



(f^.ni.n :^0794 



COPYRIGHT 1912 

BY 

HOWARD L. TERRY 



DRAMATIS PERSONS 



Isabella ... A fair maiden 

Richard ... A youth in love with Isabella 

Leander . . . His rival 

Comet . . . Prince of the Realm of Bliss 

Queen of the Realm . . . Satan ... A Woman 

Cupid . . . Spirits . . . Fairies 

The Scene ... A bower in a garden, afterward 
the Realm of Bliss 

The Time ... A summer night 



THE DREAM 



Act I. Scene I. 

A bower near a fountain in the garden of 
a beautiful estate. Mountains in the distance. 
Moonlight. 

Discovered . . Richard and Isabella asleep on a 
rustic bench among the flowers. Voices are heard 
from recesses in the garden singing: 

Prince Comet mounted a moonbeam bright, 
And traveled to earth of a summer night, 
And found, asleep, at the midnight hour 
A youth and a maid in a garden bower; 
They had tarried too long and had fallen asleep 
Where the spirits of dreamland their revelries keep. 

[Enter . . Comet, who goes hunting about the 
garden. Voices continue:] 

Oh, wild with delight was the fairy then, 
And he climbed to the flowers above his head, 
And he danced for joy in this world of men 
On a poppy's wonderful petals red. 

A fountain flowed at the lover's feet, 

And the soft moonbeams came down to meet 

The spirit of melody rising there 

From waters that danced in the fragrant air. 



8 

Among the flowers th' narcissus grew, 

And into a cup the fairy drew 

A narcotic potion of od'rous dew, 

And straight to the sleeping forms he flew, 

And rubbing it on their faces two, 

Repeated, slowly, his witchery through: 

[Comet, now near the sleepers, begins his charm. ] 

Comet 

Act, oh, act my magic art, 
On each sleeping mortal's heart! 
Arise, fair mortals, join my flight 
On a moonbeam, in the night; 
Welcome to our aeried height. 
Welcome, welcome to the light! 

[ They rise in air. ] 

Farewell to this humdrum earth. 
Mine's a world of love and mirth! 

[Voices again begin singing. The forms of fairies 
enter and glide slowly about — they are the voices 
incarnate. ] 

Then rose, the fairy and his captives two, 
And swiftly, airily to the heavens drew 
Upon a moonbeam, and the great globe grew 
A speck to their glad eyes the distance through. 

[They move faster. ] 

As swift and as bright as a meteor's flight 
Seen in the sky of a summer night; 
Or the arrow sped from Apollo's bow 
When it laid the monster Python low. 
They sped to the fairy's realm of light. 



[They stop. ] 

A wakeful owl on a ruin's height 
Beheld them passing, and the sight 
Alarmed him so he died of fright! 
A sea gull and an eagle tried 
With straining wings, on, side by side, 
To hold the aerial spirit's pace, 
(And oh! the spirit of the race!) 
Of old no hawk in pride of place 
Such fearful height did ever face. 
But vain! nor gull's nor eagle's wing 
Had power beside the three to cling. 

[Curtain drops behind the singers.] 

You have heard of the azure of Italy's sky. 

Of its glorious nights with the moon riding high; 

You have barkened the skylark's and nightingale's 

cry 
With a spirit inspired and a mist in your eye; 

You have heard of the rare smelling attar of rose. 
And those Persian fields where in luxurance grows 
The famed flower whose oil, when from presses it 

flows. 
Is a joy to my lady wherever she goes; 

You have read in Arabian stories of old 
Of the bowers and gardens, and castles of gold. 
And the beautiful maidens of heavenly mould 
With their forms hghtly wrapped in the cashmere's 
rich fold; 

You have heard the sweet singing of angelic choir, 
And the strains of the trumpet and seraphic lyre, 
You have looked at rare paintings to sigh and 

admire. 
And you know the great joy of a fulfilled desire; 



10 

But you never, oh, never conceived such a sight, 

Such an all-satisfying abode of delight. 

Such a place as the gods would not dream about, 

quite. 
As the goal of Prince Comet's most wonderful flight! 

Exit. 



Curtain rises. Scene II. 

The Realm of Bliss. The Queen about to hold open- 
air Court. 

Spirit 

The Court of Bliss behold, 
With infant stars attending; 
Up to the throne of gold 
The spirit queen ascending. 

Queen 
Arise, my subjects, rise! 

[Bells are heard. ] 

Fairy 

Up, up! my spirits, kneeling; 
Hear ye the joyous notes 
Of silver bells far pealing! 
See! down the long aisle floats 
Prince Comet and his pair, 
Bedeckt with jewels rare. 
Bright eyes and flushing cheeks 
Their happy hearts revealing. 

[Enter Comet and his pair in a winged boat.] 



11 



Chorus of Spirits, singing. 

They have come, they have come, 
In a sandalwood boat, 
With wings for oars propelling. 
Rising and falling with every note 
Of our voices, rising and swelling! 

First Spirit 

We have searched the realm afar, 
We have robbed the ocean bed. 
We have taken from each star 
Countless gems as on we sped. 

Second Spirit 

We have made the flowers grow 
With a fragrance more intense, 
We have caused the streams to flow 
With a joyous aflluence. 

Third Spirit 

We have caused the moon to shine 
On our world with softer light. 
We have brought the Muses nine 
From their famed Parnassian height. 

All 

We have given heart and hand. 
Every art that spirits know. 
To improve this lovely land 
For these mortals from below. 

Comet 
My Queen, behold them. 



12 

Queen 

What have we here? 

Comet 

Love-sick mortals from the lower sphere! 

I grew a-hungered after my long trip, 

And sought the honeysuckle for a sip; 

It was an hour when man should be abed, 

While Morpheus puts an end to joy and grief; 

I found them, love-sick, sighing for relief, 

And brought them hither. All the spirits went 

To work to welcome us, on joy intent. 

And decked your realm with many an ornament! 

Queen 

Such sport is rare, and past my understanding; 
But come, my Prince, your couple should be landing. 

Comet 

Yes, Mother, an' we'll have a wedding next. 

[To the spirits.] 

0, spirits, attend! 
The bride disembark. 
The groom will descend; 
Ho, ho, for a lark! 

[Comet alights with Richard and Isabella.] 

Spirits^ greeting to Isabella 

From the world below. 
To our world above, 
With thy heart aglow. 
Fluttering with love. 
Thou hast come tonight. 



13 

At our brother's calling, 
Our world is all delight, 
Its blessings on thee falling; 
Thy gown of lilies made, 
Thy veil the autumn mist. 
Thine eyes with night arrayed, 
Thy cheeks with roses kist. 
Thy heart's and soul's desire 
Is love's eternal fire. 

Richard 

Oh! heavenly bliss, 

What joy is this? 
What realm unearthly, Isabel, 
Is this, where all these spirits dwell? 

Isabella 

Yes; how and where? 

This gown I wear 
Is not the work of mortal hand; 
You took me o'er my father's land 
' ^ ' To spend a happy evening hour— 

Comet 
And you are in our spirits' power! 

Richard, unheeding. 

Methinks through heaven's portals pour 
More blessings than I ever knew before 
Upon me, and, 0, Isabel, 
You who have kept me waiting all these years 
Now yield without a question. Mine eyes swell 
With joy unearthly, blinded with glad tears. 

[Richard steals his arm around Isabella, and they 
pace slowly about.] 



14 

Comet 

Hist, spirits, hist! the charm is working well. 
Bring forth the minister and sound the marriage 
bell. 

[The spirits rush from the stage; the throne dis- 
appears. Enter Cupid, and Comet attacks in an 
effort to drive him off. Enter Leander, with guitar, 
singing. Isabella is charmed by the sweet voice, 
and as the song continues, she slowly moves toward 
Leander.] 

Leander, singing. 

Thy sighs are breaths of roses sweet, 
Thy voice, the music of the lyre. 
And could my lips thine own but meet 
But once, 'twould quiet my desire. 

The soft love-light within those eyes. 
Whose darkness matches raven gloss. 
Is such, it seems, as angels prize. 
But mine's the gain, and theirs the loss. 

The magic waves that o'er me leap. 
From pulse to pulse, from vein to vein. 
When thy soft hand in mine I keep. 
Is as the bud's when summer rain 

With gentle warmth all lightly falls. 
And to the with'ring blossoms yields 
The nourishment their beauty calls 
If they must bloom in bower or fields; 

But when the lights are burning low, 
Thy phantom form before me floats. 
And love's soft passions gently glow. 
While in mine ears are sweetest notes. 



15 

And there my rev'rie fades and dies, 
The phantom ghdes away, and night 
Steals o'er me, and my drooping eyes 
Await Aurora's car of light! 

Isabella 
Leander! 

Richard, aside. 

Now how came he upon this scene? Alas! 
That he, Leander, should at this glad hour 
Make his appearance. 

[Gazes at Isabella. ] 

My love, she yields! 

Leander 

Thou here? And hast thou heard my heart declare 
Its love for thee? Then take thy choice, Richard 
Or me. 

Isabella 

Hush, he's here. 

Leander 
Why, as I live! I had not seen him. 

Richard 
Isabella — come — back ! 

Isabella, aside. 

What power is this that makes me move 
To one I like from one I love? 



16 

Richard, aside. 
Now I have lost; but Fll control myself. 

[To Isabella.] 

In that, Bella, that I love thee so. 
Is why, without vain words I let thee go, 
And in my heart I never will believe 
That thou, in this, intended to deceive; 
And thou, Leander, since to thee is giv'n 
The fairest, dearest creature under heav'n, 
Let not a moment pass that may not tell 
That thou wert worthy of fair Isabel. 

Isabella, falteringly. 
0, Richard! 

[Exit Leander and Isabella. ] 

Richard 

Farewell. —Now let me close mine eyes 
Forever on my dream of paradise. 

[Cupid shoots Richard, who falls.] 

Richard 
Oh!! 

[Exit Cupid. Comet runs to Richard. Enter Satan 
at rear. ] 

Satan 

My work, it is pressing, 
But never distressing — 
Vm master of all I assume; 



17 

My pleasure is mixing 
In other men's fixing, 
And turning delight into gloom: 
When not busy below 
I to other worlds go, 
And— why, here's a mortal. Heigh-ho! 

Comet, springing back in alarm. 

What monstrous mischief maker must we meet? 

My best art has no effect whatever; 

ril get the band and purge the place of him! 

Exit. 

Richard, rising. 

And you — here? 

Satan 
I am everywhere. 

Richard, lifting his hands. 

What a maelstrom of distress 
Is the world's unhappiness! 
What a balm must heaven be 
If it's half what's taught to me! 

Satan 

If it's half what's taught to thee. 

Richard 

Where can man go that thou art not, 
Thou grim destroyer, earth's worst blot? 

Satan 
Nowhere. But come, what's the matter? 



18 

Richard 
Why torture me? 

Satan 
Ah. 

[He glides about. ] 

Saint Peter sat by the pearly gate, 
Twas his to whistle and listen and wait 
For occasional souls of unusual men, 
In ninety years he had counted ten — 

Richard 
Thou monster! 

[Satan glides to one side and makes a pass, 
Richard beholds the wedding ceremony of Leander 
and Isabella.] 

Richard 

My God! 

Satan 
She has played thee false! 

Richard, in despair. 

Now let me die. I had presumed to think 
I was at happiness the very brink. 
Oh, never, never, never more will I 
Put faith in woman. Come, eternity! 

Satan, handing Richard a dagger. 
Here, let me help you! 



19 

[Satan makes another pass, and a very beautiful 
blonde woman appears. Richard drops the dagger 
and gazes at the figure, which vanishes. ] 

Richard 
Who was that? 

Satan 
Another woman. 

[Richard slowly paces back and forth. Satan, arms 
folded, watches him. ] 

Richard, addressing Satan. 
She was very beautiful. 

Satan 
Even as I am dutiful. 

Richard, with a start. 

I like that not. 

Satan 

Did you like the woman ? 

Richard 

She was very fair, and had she the qualities 
and those endearing ways of my lost Isabella, I 
might have some hope of happiness. 

Satan 

The art of woman is the same in all, 
Fat, lean, light, dark, short, tall. 

Richard 

Isabella was a rare exception. 

Beyond the very gods' supreme conception! 



20 

Satan, aside. 

Fool— as bad in judgment as in verse. 

[Addressing Richard.] 

Now Isabella is beyond your reach, 

No use about her many charms to preach, 

He's a weak mortal who cannot forget 

His love affairs, or, say, a losing bet ; 

The world has good things scattered everywhere. 

Why, come with me and throw away your care. 

Richard 
With you ? 

Satan 

Why not ? I rarely fail to bring about 
Gain of some sort, (aside) or at least a riot. 

Richard, aside. 

I have been true, my love the wrong hath done, 

And all my sacrifices bring me woe ; 

Twas ever, ever thus beneath the sun. 

The good must bow before the winds that blow. 

Consoling selves in conscience. Is it fit 

That man continue so? Oh, hard conclusion— 

I fly— I fly! my mind is all confusion! 

[He rushes out.] 

Satan 

r 11 fix it so he'll meet with more adventure. 
My word is good, with or without indenture. 

Curtain. 



21 



Act II. Scene I. 

A grove bordering a lake in a mountainous 
country. A beautiful blonde woman, same that 
appeared at Satan ^s command in last scene, is seen 
dressing her hair after a bath in the lake. Richard 
enters, the woman, seeing him, starts to flee. 

Woman 
Alas, alas ! I am discovered ! What, a mortal ? 

Richard 

I beg your pardon, I no sound had heard. 
Except the sweet singing of a lonely bird ; 
Nor seen a soul in this vast wilderness, 
Save you. Fll go and cause you no distress. 

Woman 
I trust thou hast not seen me otherwise ? 

Richard 
No sight more beautiful e'er met mine eyes. 

Woman 
Then thou hast seen. 

Richard 

I could not help it. Were the stars between 
Me and such beauty I could see them not ! 

Woman, sighing. 
How came you here ? 



22 

Richard 

Fleeing from what has been to what may come, 
Even as others, who, with sorrow dumb, 
Drop from the world and seek forgetfulness 
In any form or guise, joy or distress, 
Or solitude intense, or palid grief ; 
All that I seek is, from this woe relief. 

Woman 

If aught that I possess can bring thee cheer, 
Tis thine— and thank the Fates that brought thee 
here. 

(Enticingly.) 

My home is on yon mountainside, 

No one with me did e'er abide, 

My care has been to shield from eyes 

The wonders of my paradise : 

My form divine, my chambers rare 

With jewels and art from everywhere, 

My closets with the rarest wine 

That ever left the banks of Rhine ; 

The secrets long from man withheld, 

By cunning sought, but ne'er revealed. 

There ev'ry mortal grief is quelled— 

[A bugle is heard ; woman flees. Enter Comet and 
troop of fairies. ] 

Richard 
She's gone ! What silvery music pealed ? 

Fairies 
He has seen her ! 



23 

Bugler 
Rash mortal, how darest thou ? 

Spirit 
What shall we do to punish him ? 

Bugler 

Woe, woe! loss, ruin, and woe! 
She, the fairest of womankind. 
Never did a flower grow 
More pleasing to a fairy's mind; 
She whom we have guarded well 
Is forever lost! 

Broken, broken now the spell, 
Spirits, spirits, sound the knell. 
This mortal pays the cost! 

Comet 
Richard! 

Richard 
Where am I? Who are you? 

Comet, aside. 
Alas, he knows me not. 

Bugler 
Where thou shouldst not be. 

Richard 

It was by accident I happened here, 

And since this place has yielded up a prize, 

I will not be content until I have it. 



24 

[Comet holds a consultation with the bugler 
while the fairies weave a spell around Richard.] 

Ha, ha, ha! you match your strengh with mine? 
When mortal loves he knows nor bond nor time. 
I do admire you, spirits, but beware. 
There are some things 'twere better not to dare. 

[Enter Satan. Richard starts. Comet shows fear.] 

Thou again? 

Satan 

Even so; and as ever, at your service. 

Richard 

Then rid me of these spirits. I had thought 
With ease to rid me of them. I am caught 
In a strange power, maybe of their own making, 
And no amount of tearing, striking, breaking 
Gives me my liberty. What place is this? 

Satan 
These creatures call it the Realm of Bliss. 

Richard 
It might be could I get to yonder height. 

Satan 

Nor spirit nor mortal. 
Nor witch hid in whortle, 
Nor working of magic. 
Nor threatening tragic, 
Nor craft e'er invented. 
Has ever prevented 
That which I attempted: 
Off, spirits, begone! 

[They vanish. ] 



25 

Richard, surprised. 
What marvel now? 

Satan 

No marvel whatever, 
Fm simple and clever. 

Richard 
How shall I thank you? 

Satan 
Of that you need not now concern yourself. 

Richard 

Thou art magnanimous. 'Tis hard to say 
Thou art the same I saw but yesterday; 
Pve always felt no creature is so bad 
That somehow cannot make another glad. 
Upon yon height a marvelous beauty dwells, 
More lovely than all else mine eyes have met. 
And since I saw her first my bosom swells 
With a deep yearning. Couldst thou help me get 
The lady's favor ? 

Satan, aside. 

I like the savor. 
But yesterday he swore to ne'er again 
Put faith in woman. Such a vow were vain. 
But let him go, I know what's waiting him, 
I like to see a person fall to whim. 

To Richard 
How did you learn she lives up there? 



26 

Richard 
I saw her and she told me. 

Satan 
Then go ahead; but, mortal, have a care. 

Richard 
Wherefore? 

Satan 

Hast thou not felt the fairies* wrath already? 

Wer't not for me thou would 'st be brought to task. 

And next to me these creatures are supreme 

In mischief, once their minds are set. She, 

Whom ye seek, is their sole thought and care, 

The rarest being ever brought from earth. 

And well they guard her from all eyes but theirs; 

But as thou art the victim of false love, 

And in thy desperation wert about 

To end existence, I to solace thee 

Caused this chance meeting for thy happiness. 

Richard 

'Tis but a mile to reach her hut, 
If I through wood and valley cut, 
Methinks I can escape the band 
And seek the lady's heart and hand. 

Satan 
Then go ahead, Pll grant thee passage safe. 

Richard, pressing Satan's hand. 

A thousand thanks, my friend, to you; 
Pardon my haste. I fly— adieu ! 

Exit. 



27 

Satan 

Now look at that! were it not for me, 
Think, what a dull world this would be, 
People would die of ennui. 
There would be no rule of three, 
Fruit would grow on every tree, 
Food be had too easily. 
Lawyers would of toil be free— 
Men on all things would agree. 
And no use for churches see; 
Gold would know no victory, 
Love would have no mystery, 
Spell, suspense, uncertainty: 
Life would not be worth the fee! 

Though I am condemned to hell, 
All th' excitement earth doth swell 
Comes of my unconquered spell; 
Sweet, how sweeter man can tell 
After woe which him befell; 
Never tolled a funeral knell 
But sweeter rang the marriage bell: 
'Twas my art did death compel. 
Judge me world, and so— farewell. 

Scene IL 

[A room of marvelous beauty. Richard and the 
woman seated at a table. They drain their wine- 
glasses.] 

Woman 

For one brief moment while 'twas in our throats 
We did enjoy it; so with pleasures all, 
The sweetness while it lasts, then emptiness; 
Reflection, not too pleasant; torture next, 



28 

And then, unless we feed desire to its 
Content (which process is expense, and which 
Means energy expended, or a scheme 
Out of all honor to possess the price) , 
We drag on miserable. 

Richard 

I had supposed 
Here and in you to find surcease of woe. 

Woman 
Alas! 

Richard 

You gave me all you had, and while ^twas new 
Then was it pleasurable; but I am sick 
Of all that here belongs. 

Woman 

Including me? 



I am weary. 



Richard 



Woman 



I to my chamber will 
Retire for sleep. Here, Richard, are the keys 
To ev'ry room and vault and secret place. 
Wherein are stored all things that mankind seek. 
Amuse yourself with all that they contain, 
And when of them you tire, remember— me. 

Richard, taking her hand. 

With all my heart I thank you. Pleasant dreams. 

Exit Woman. 



29 

Richard, dashing down the glasses. 

Most miserable of mortals! Woe is me! 
Alas, alas! what weakness have I shown! 
That she whom I have loved and trusted so 
Has played me false, is no excuse that I 
Should fall to this. man, where is your strength 
In time of trial? Not in the glass— I know, 
For I have tried; neither in gold, nor things 
By art produced; nor in sweet sound, neither 
In woman loved not purely. 

[Goes to window and throws away the keys.] 

There! I'm done 
With these contrivances for man's delight. 
Get thee behind me, Satan, get — and — stay! 
Teach me to love thee, Lord, and all thy works. 
And give me strength against the ways of man. 
0, Isabella, let me dream of thee! 
However false, still, let me dream of thee! 

[Richard, with head bowed, paces slowly back 
and forth. The stage darkens slowly, and when 
it is almost dark Richard breaks out in song. 
While he is singing the scenery is changed to the 
interior of a peasant's hut near a village.] 

Richard. 

0, canst thou not, when night is low, 
And storms are blowing o'er the lea, 
Forget thyself a moment, oh. 
And let thy thoughts return to me? 

I lived for thee. I feel, I know 
That thou wert made alone for me, 
For all the fires that in me glow 
Were brightened by a look from thee. 



30 

And must I dream of other days? 
My heart, it only beats a moan, 
The while the demon, Mem'ry, plays 
In mockery of the bliss that's gone. 

The joy that was, the broken plight, 
And thou that wert the soul of both! 
Alas, alas! the wedding night — 
The bride, the groom, the solemn troth! 

If mine's the pain, is thine the bliss? 
To me no second love can be; 
No, God will never sanction this, 
Nor free thee of my misery! 

Scene III. 

[The peasant's hut. Richard is lying on the 
floor, stupefied.] 

Richard, rising. 

Good Lord, where am I ? Where are those splen- 
dors? 
[Looks about him.] 
I am awake. [Pinches himself.] See, I am not 

dreaming. 
Alas, but one short hour ago I dwelt 
In a most sumptuous palace. Where is she 
Who entertained me? Ah, I did renounce 
Her and her ways. I must begin anew, 
And set myself to this, a peasant's life. 

[He looks over the place.] 
Something is wanting — my dear Isabel— 
To make this simple hut a paradise. 

[Singing heard without.] 
Hist! what's that? Can it be that she repents? 

[Rushes to the door.] 



31 

Ah me, a flower girl: I will be kind. 

[To the girl, now near the door.] 
Come in. 

Flower Girl 

Good Sir, my father's dead, and all we have 
For our support is what I earn by singing. 

Richard 

Then sing, my child, and gladden this poor heart: 
God has not given man a higher art. 

Flower Girl 

[As the song proceeds Richard shows signs of 
self reproach and remorse.] 

When first I kissed that lovely face 
It seemed that Nature and her race 
Of fairy artists vied their skill 
To make the fairest, and to fill 
That single mould with all the good 
That makes the charm of maidenhood. 

Again I kiss that face today- 
Some forty years have passed away. 
The brows are knit, the locks are gray, 
And round about it wrinkles stray: 
The heart has lost its childish play, 
The bloom of youth's forever gone. 
But still, unchanged, my love lives on. 

Richard, giving the girl a coin. 
Child! Here, all I have— would it were more. 

[He hurries out; the scene shifts, and Richard is 
seen in a wood.] 



32 

My God! what have I done, what have I done? 
Who sent that child to call me so to task? 
I am awake! — 'Tis I who have been false! 
0, Isabella, where art thou, my love? 
Mercy, mercy, heaven! — God forgive! 

[He hurries on and comes to the bower scene in 
the first act, where Isabella is found asleep. ] 

There!— my love, Isabel! What shall I say? 

[He throws himself down beside Isabella, and sud- 
denly awakes. He rubs his eyes in bewilderment. 
Comet, who has just broken the charm, slips away.] 

I can't believe it. What, all this a dream? 
Then thank heaven; Fve grown an age in wisdom 
By this night. Let the consequences be 
Whatever they may, I will defend myself. 

[Bells are heard.] 

Awake, my Isabel! Alas, what hour? 
Loud peals the chimes in yonder tower. 

Isabella, awakening. 
Richard! 

Richard 
Bella! 

Isabella 
0, Richard, Richard, I have slept! 

Richard 
And I! 



33 

Isabella 
And I have dreamed. Ah me! 

Richard 
And I! [Starts homeward.] 

Isabella 

Stay, hear me just a moment. Twas so real, 
Even as life. Richard, I have been 
Through torture — yea, long years of misery: 
I dreamed I to Leander gave my hand. 
When on the point of yielding all to you. 
Although I did not love him— do not now. 
And never did — and saw you left to grief. 
Yet master of yourself in sorrow's hour. 
I heard you speak for me — my happiness. 
Without a thought of your own wretchedness; 
Heard each word that you spoke, forgiving me. 
Your caution to Leander. Oh, my love, 
What I have passed through teaches me to act. 
Act my true self, when heretofore I faltered: 
Here, Richard, if you want me, I am yours. 
If in the past I have been quick to wound. 
Slow in those things that you desired of me. 
Tell me, you'll forgive; and may it please 
Kind heaven to increase my love for you. 

Richard, drawing Isabella to him. 

My sweet, my love, thank God for this strange 

night. 
I, too, have dreamed, was part and person to 
What you have dreamed. You broke my heart, I 

fell 
Into the snares of Satan, and partook 



34 

Of all the vanities this world contains— 
Drank to the dregs the cup of sensual life. 
Then came I to my strength and nobler self, 
Asked God for help, the truer life, and you. 
In moral strength alone shall man advance, 
In faith and simple life is man's content. 
So come, sweet Isabella, we'll go forth. 
And ask of Heaven only love and worth. 



Exit. 



Enter Comet and his troops, singing. 

Dreams and love and happy hours, 
Heart's desire attaining; 
Maidens fair and moonlit bowers. 
Oh! how Joy was straining. 

Spirits that in childhood day 
Drive the cares of life away, 
Things impossible to be 
This glad night were company! 

Sorrow, wickedness and pain 
Have their place on earth; 
Loss in time will turn to gain, 
If a man have worth. 

Who would not a sweet dream have 
When the day is ended. 
In a bower where waters lave. 
And rose breaths are blended? 



35 



Who would not a strange dream have, 
All of life revealing, 
Even as we spirits gave, 
With you mortals deahng? 

^Tis I, ^tis I, 'tis I ! 
Yes, I would a sweet dream have 
When the day is ended. 
With my love and fairies by, 
Where rose breaths are blended. 
Yes, I would a strange dream have, 
Which all fears had ended. 
In a bower where waters lave. 
And rose breaths are blended, 
Then good-bye to one and all, 
Phoebus scales the mountain wall ! 

Curtain. 



ERRATA 




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WG 29 W? 



CONGRESS 




